Big Changes

If you're reading this, then it's happened.

I've moved.

This space has been a wonderful beginning, but since the only way to grow is through change, I'm moving on.

I cannot express enough how amazing these past two years have been. I've met some amazing people, and learned so much about myself.

I look forward to seeing you all at my new place.

www.missmarinastar.com

My Girl Likes To...

...potty all the time!

These photos have not been altered. It is in fact, our little ladybug, sitting on actual toilets, sans screaming. It only took three days and a bag of jelly beans to get this girl out of her diapers. I'm hoping this, combined with her love of Tramp Stamps, isn't going to come back to haunt us during her teen years.

Baby's Got Sauce

Elijah has more refined taste in music than I. He enjoys listening to actual musicians, while I'll take almost anything a big label throws at me. Because of this, we don't always agree on what we should listen to together.

However, almost thirteen years ago, we found some common ground when Elijah introduced me to the music of G. Love & Special Sauce. We have a lot of sweet dating memories associated with this band. Many tied to one of their first singles, Baby's Got Sauce.




Neither of us had ever seen Mr. Love in concert though, so when Elijah told me about the show at La Zona Rosa a few weeks back I knew we had to go.

We got a sitter.

Called some friends.

And even lucked out with a meet and greet.

We were young again, and nostalgically in love, for one fantastic night.

 *Note: After posting the above picture to Instagram and Facebook, I got several comments on how great Elijah and I looked together (even from my parents). I then felt obligated to post the following picture so people who knew better didn't think I was trying to pass off G. Love as my husband.

My Love

Photo taken by Jansson Photography

This week's Monday Listicles theme is love. Appropriate, apt, fun, and easy. I decided to use this as an opportunity to make a list of all the reasons why, after twelve years of marriage, I am still ridiculously in love with Elijah.

1. He still makes me laugh. A lot. Mostly at him, which he never seems to mind, but not just that. No matter how much I have mocked his sense of humor, he has never stopped trying to make me laugh or smile. I find this adorable.

2. He may not excel at anticipating what I want or need, he's a terrible mind reader, but he will complete a honey-do list without complaint. Even if it means staying up late to do a mess of work after putting the kids to bed on a weeknight. If I write it down, it will always get done.

3. He never fails to have a card and gift laying out for me when I get up on special days. And he doesn't mind that I suck at doing stuff like that. Seriously, the man is better at Valentine's and anniversaries than I am. (I would feel bad, but I'm better at making babies so I think we're even.)

4. Speaking of our babies, Elijah is a wonderful father. I think he actually enjoys playing with his kids. He's the outdoor parent, the indoor jungle gym, the parent who wants to go and do. I'm the one who doesn't want to get out of my pajamas.

5. He pulls his own weight. It's a struggle to keep things up with both of us working and my odd hours. Elijah is more than willing to do what needs to be done, which is better than me because taking out the trash is man's work!

6. He encourages me to do things that I love. Whether it's getting away with friends, going back to school, or making time for long runs, he has always been supportive of the things I need to do in order to keep sane.

7. He never complains about how much I spend. Ever. He may not understand why cutting and/or dyeing two inches of hair can cost up to $200, but he doesn't complain. He might think that the kids have enough outfits for the next six years, but he'd never suggest I stop going to Gymboree. He has never made me feel like I don't have the right to spend our money in whatever way I see fit.

8. He cooks. I mean, really cooks. Not in the way that I cook, which is just to keep us from starving. This man makes meals, and desserts, and he enjoys it. One Valentine's Day he made me a rack of lamb! He learned how to make baked fudge since I love it so much. He feeds me delicious food and enjoys making it almost as much as I enjoy eating it. Almost.

9. He encourages me to sleep. This may sound bizarre, but there are a lot of days that I don't want to sleep. I hate spending an entire weekend day in bed because I worked the night before. But he realizes how important sleep is to my mental and physical health and he nags me if I get up too early. He'll take the kids out so I have nothing to stay up for. He sends me to bed early and lets me sleep in, even if it means he never gets to. And as far as I'm concerned sleep = love.

10. He reads my blog. He doesn't comment, or question what I've written. He is supportive and encouraging in his silence. He'll tell me if he enjoyed something, but I never worry about him passing judgement on anything I've put here. He respects this space and has never made me feel like I should censor myself. Plus, he's saved me a ton of work this Valentine's Day by stopping by to read this for himself! Happy Valentine's Day, hon!

So there you have it. Ten, long winded reasons for why I'm still with the man I married all those years ago. 

18 And Life

I can't possibly express how thrilled I was when Jamie from Chosen Chaos asked me to write a post for her If I Could Turn Back Time series. I mean have you seen the list of those who've been there before me?!

So, I am not here today.

I'm spending this Friday with friends.

Please join us.